Elevator



Aug. 1940- G. KRE LVL 2.211.016

ELEVATOR I Fi led Sept. 14, 1958 s sheets-shut i INVENTOR v Georye lfre/l A E ATTORNEY ""3 1940- s. KRELL 2.211.016

ELEVATOR Filed Sept. 14, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 13, 1940. s. KRELL 2.211.016

ELEVATOR Filed Sept. 14, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet s I Hi5 x 5 INVENTOR 2 0/536 lf/i B ATToNEY Aug. 13, 1940. e. KRELL ELEVATOR Flled Sap Aug. 13, 1940- 1 e. KRELL 2.211.016

ELEVATOR Filed Sept. 14, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INYENTOR 6 042a firg/l. 8% I A ohm:

Patented Aug. 13, 1940 PATENT OFFICE ELEVATOR George Krell,

Sapulpa, Okla.

Application September 14, 1938, Serial No. 229,906

24 Claims.

This invention relates to elevators for handling strings of pipe and particularly those employed in rotary drilling operations to rotatably connect a drill bit with a turntable and through which a drilling fluid is circulated in washing the cuttings macle by the bit to the top of the well, the present invention being a continuation in part of application Serial No. 91,078, filed July 1'7, 1936.

As is well known, a string of drill pipe includes a plurality of pipe sections connected by couplings which ofler supporting engagement by an elevator when the drill pipe is run into and pulled from the well in order to change the bit or perform other operations necessitating withdrawal of the drilling string. The ordinary elevator includes hinged sections latched together and forming a collar that loosely encircles the pipe and engages under the lower ends of the couplings. Since the inner diameter of the elevator is necessarily of larger diameter than the outer diameter of the drill pipe to facilitate its application and removal in accordance with the speed with which the string of pipe is handled, it is obvious that the elevator does not engage the entire area at the end of a coupling but only a limited extent on the outer peripheral edge: thereof. Even on new couplings the actual con: tact area of the elevator is a minimum for safe operation but when the peripheral edges of the couplings have become worn by the abrading action of the cuttings contained in the drilling fluid, this supporting surface is reduced to such an extent that the wom coupling slips down into the elevator, and wedges or exerts radial thrusts which result in elevator failures.

Therefore the principal object of the present invention is to provide an elevator which has the necessary clearance relatively to a drill pipe for facilitating its application and removal but which automatically adjusts itself to engage the entire supporting surface at the end of a coupling and particularly the unworn portion immediately surrounding the pipe.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an elevator of this character with a universal hinge joint between the sections thereof; to provide an improved latch for the elevator capable of compensating for movements in the universal joint connection; to provide ,the elevator with a compensating latch having safety locking features; to provide a latch that is quickly and easily operated in accordance with the speed at which a string of pipe is handled; and to provide an operating means whereby the operator may use either the right or left hand to unlock and unlatch the latch mechanism in opening and breakingdown the elevator for encircling a pipe.

In accomplishing these and other objects as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided im- 5 proved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an elevator constructed in accordance with the present inven- 10 tion and which is shown in operative engagement with the collar of a drill pipe section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the elevator with the bails removed and showing the operating levers in part section. v

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the elevator in open position to engage a drill pipe.

Fig. 4 is a section through the elevator on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the sections closed.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken through 20 the hinge connection.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the parts' composing the hinge connection and shown in disassembled spaced relation to better illustrate their construction.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the elevator from the latch side.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the elevator illustrating its engagement with the collar of a drill pipe section. 0

Fig. 9 is a detail section through the latch and taken at a point just above the upper latch releasing arm.

Fig. 10 is a similar section but taken at a point above the lower latch releasing arm. 3 Fig. 11 is a detail horizontal section through the hinge connection showing the elevator sec-.

tion in open position.

.Fig. 12is an elevational view of the latch side of a modified form of elevator which embodies the features of the present invention, the bails being shown in section.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the elevator illustrated in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is an elevational view of the hinge side of the elevator.

Fig.,15 is a vertical section through the modified form of elevator illustrating its engagement with the collar of a drill pipe section.

Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of the parts of the modified form of elevator shown in disassembled spaced relation to better illustrate their construction. 1

Fig. 17 is a cross-section through the modified form of elevator.

Referring more in detail to the drawings: l designates an elevator constructed in accordance with the present invention and which ineludes a collar orring-like body 2 consisting of a pair of sections 3 and 4. The sections 3 and 4 are substantially semicylindrical in shape and of suflicient body thickness to provide the required strength in supporting the load of a string of drill pipe. The sections 3 and 4 have registering side faces 55 and 1-8 respectively, and intermediate arcuate faces 9 and I9 which, when the sections are placed in juxtaposition with the faces 5-5 and 1-8 slightly spaced apart as indicated at I, form a substantially cylindrical bore of somewhat larger diameter than the outer diameter of the drill pipe i2 encircled thereby.

The arcuate faces 9 and iii are recessed intermediate the ends thereof as at l3 and I4 so that it is not necessary to machine the entire surface but only the ends thereof to the desired diameter. The upper ends of the respective sections are provided with arcuate ribs i5 and i5 having fiat upper faces l1 and i8 to seatingly engage the lower end l9 of the drill pipe coupling 20. Extending radially from the outer side of each section, intermediate the side faces 5-5 and 1-8, are bail arms 2| and 22 having curved bail engaging notches 23 and 24 on the under sides thereof at a point substantially midway of the sections as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and '7. The upper sides of the arms are offset downwardly and outwardly to terminate in lugs 21 and 28 to cooperate with a similar lugs 29 and 39 at the lower sides of the notches to carry bail retaining pins 3| and 32, the pins having their ends mounted in aligning openings 33 in the respective lugs and retained by cotter pins 34. When the pins are in place they bridge the space between the lugs to retain the connecting bars 35 and 3'5 of supporting members or bails 31 and 38 wherewith the elevator is suspended from a conventional hook and tackle mechanism (not shown); to raise and lower the elevator in withdrawing or running in the drill pipe as in conventional drilling operations.

By reason of the normal spacing between the faces 55 and 1-8 of the respective sections, the sections are free to rock on the cross bars 35 and 35 of the bails until the upper ends of the sections engage each other which in effect reduces the diametrical spacing of the arcuate faces 9 and I0 at the upper ends of the sections so that the seats formed by the flat faces l5 and i1 engage the end of the collar in close proximity to the periphery of the drill pipe. To permit this rocking or pivotal movement and to secure the sections together, I provide a universal hinge connection 39 on one side of the elevator and a compensating latch mechanism 40 at the opposite side. The hinge connection comprises substantially cylindrical ears 4| and 42 projecting from the respective sections in overlying relation and which have substantially flat end faces 43 and 44 spaced apart as indicated at 45 in Fig. 4 to accommodate the rocking movement of the sections. The opposite faces 45 and 45 of the respective ears are also flat and the peripheries thereof are provided with stiffening ribs 41 and 48 terminating in stop lugs 49 and 5|! respectively adapted to engage the body of the other section when the sections are open to their maximum extent. The ear 42 has a bore 5| extending completely therethrough in registry with a cylindrical bore 52 in the other ear. The bore 52, however, terminates short of the upper face of the ear to form a stop 53 circumferentially of a smaller bore 54 that continues through the ear. The bores 5| and 52 cooperate in housing pivot members 55 and 55. The members 55 and 55 are of cylindrical form and of a size to be snugly received in the respective bores. The outer ends of the members engag'e against the stop 53 and against the face 51 of a bushing 59 that closes the lower end of the bore 5| and retains the pivot members 55 and 55.

The bushing 55 has an annular flange 59 that engages the bottom face 45 of the ear 42 to limit movement thereof into the bore. The adjacent ends 59 and 5| of the pivot members are spaced apart according to the spacing of the ears and have transverse semicylindrical recesses 52 and 83 which cooperate to mount a transverse pivot member. The pin 54 is of a diameter to be oscillatable in the recesses and of a length to be retained in the confines of the pivot members, the ends preferably-being arcuate as indicated at 55 to conform to the cylindrical surfaces of the pivot members. The pivot members 55, 56 and 54 have registering openings 55;, 51 and 59 corresponding to the opening 54 of the upper ear 4| and with a similar opening 59 in the bushing 59. Extending through the respective openings is a pin 10 of smaller diameter than the openings to allow freedom of movement of the hinge parts relative thereto in rocking movement of the sections on their respective bails. The pin 19 has a hollow head 1| to accommodate a pressure lubricant fitting 12 through which lubricant is supplied to an axial channel 13 connecting spaced branch channels 14 and 15 extending through to the space surrounding the pin. The head of the pin also has a collar 19 to engage the upper face 45 of the ear 4|. The opposite end of the pin is threaded as at 11 to mount a nut 19, cooperating with the collar to retain the sections in assembly.

In order to retain the axis of the pivot member 54 in plane with the vertical axis of the elevator, the pivot member 55 is keyed within the bore 5| by a pin 19 driven into an opening formed partly in the ear 42 as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The pin when in place is retained by the bushing 58. When the parts are assembled, the pivot member 94 engaging the semicylindrical seats of the pivot members 55 and 55 maintains the spacing between the ears, and the axis thereof is located midway thereof and extends in the direction of the vertical axis of the elevator when the sections are closed about a pipe.

The sections therefore toggle upon the pivot member 54 as an axis while they rock on the cross bars of the bails to bring the upper ends into gripping contact with the drill pipe and so that the seating faces of the ribs l5 and I5 engage the'end of the coupling immediately adjacent the pipe as shown in Fig. 8. When the sections are open the ear 4| swivels upon the pivot member 55 and the pivot members 55 and 55 maintain their same relative relation with the ear of the other section due to the keying pin 19' and the engagement of the pivot member 54 in the transverse recesses 52 and 53 of the pivot members 55 and 55. Attention is directed to the fact that the pin 10 serves merely to retain assembly of the sections and is not relied upon to carry directly any of the thrusts imparted on the elevator under load of the drill ipe.

Formed on the side edges of the respective sections, opposite the universal hinge connection -ject from the side faces I and 8 and are received in recesses 85 and 86 so that the sections may close without interference. The lugs are also spaced apart as indicated at 81 and the adjacent faces thereof are rounded as shown at 88 and 89 in Fig. 7 to accommodate rocking movement of the sections. Extending from the outer face of the elevator section 4 at one side of the lugs 83 and 84 are ears 99and 9| mounting a pintle 92 on which a latch or link 'member 93 is pivotally mounted. The pintle 92 has a head 94 on the lower end and is retained from displacement by a cotter pin 95 extending through the upper end thereof and engaging the upper ear 99. The latch member 93 has a gate portion provided with an opening 96 having arcuate sides 91 and 98 corresponding to the side faces of the lugs so that the gate portion of the latch member is adapted to pass over the lugs and retain the sections in engagement about a pipe. The upper and lower faces of the opening 96 are spaced from the corresponding faces of the lugs as shown in Fig. '7 to accommodate shifting movement of the latch in respect to the lugs when the sections hinge to and "from each other. Extending from the gate portion of the latch member are ears 99 and I99 mounted on the pintle 92 and respectively engaging the upper side of the car 99 and the lower side of the ear 9| to maintain registering alignment of the opening 96 with the lugs 83 and 84. To limit opening movement of the latch, the ear 9I is provided with an outwardly and upwardly extending projection I 9| to engage the outer side of the lower ear I99 when the gate portion of the latch has amply cleared the lugs. The latch is normally retained in latching engagement with the lugs by means of a coil spring I92 that is sleeved over the pintle 92 and has one end terminating in a laterally extending arm I93 which pressingly engages in a grooved seat I94 formed on the outer face of the latch as shown in Figs. 4 and 7. The opposite end of the spring terminates in a depending arm I95 that engages a side ofthe ear 9I as best shown in Fig. 1.

To facilitate release of the latch and opening of the elevator sections, each section is equipped with a handle or operating lever designated I96 for the section 3 and I9I for the section 4. The levers I96 and I9! are of similar construction and include heads I98 and I99 that are fixed to the upper ends of vertical shafts H9 and III. The shaft III is relatively short and is rotatably mounted in an ear H2 projecting from the section 4 and in an extension H3 of the car 99 as shown in Fig. 7,.the ear H2 being spaced above the extension H3 to accommodate a hub I I4 of a latch engaging arm H5, the hub of the arm being keyed to the shaft so that it is movable therewith upon swinging of the handle member. The free end of the arm terminates in a depending finger H6 that engages against an upwardly extending wingII I on the gate portion of the latch member as shown in Figs. 4 and 7. It is thus obvious that when the handle I9! is swung to the right, Fig. '7, the finger H6 on the arm H pushes against the wing III on the gate portion of the latch member to swing it outwardly from engagement with the lugs 83 and 84 so that the sections may be opened upon applying spreading pressure to the handles I96 and I91.

The other shaft H9 is of longer length and Is mounted in ears H8 and H9 projecting from the section 3 adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof. Fixed on the shaft at a point just over the upper lug 83 is an arm I29 that is normally seated in a recess I2I of the section 3 and which has an end I22 engaging the inner side of the gate portion of the latch member so that when the lever I96 is swung away from the lever I91 the shaft I I 9 is rotated to cause the cam-like head on the arm I29 to cooperate with the arm H5 in moving the latch member from engagement with the lug. The shaft H9 is normally retained in position so that the arm thereon is engaged in its recess by means of a coil spring I23 that is sleeved over the shaft and has one end engaging in a groove I24 of the shaft and its opposite 'end J25 engaging against the body of the section 3, as shown in Fig. 7 The shaft I I I is retained from longitudinal movement by the head of the lever I I5 engaging one side of the ear I I2 and the shaft H9 is retained by the head of a screw I28 that projects from the shaft and engages the lower side of the ear H8.

To prevent accidental release of the latch and provide a safety feature, each actuating lever I96 and I9! has a draw-bolt I21 slidable in a bore I28 extending longitudinally of the respective arms and engageable in sockets I29 formed in the sides of the respective sections as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the sockets I29 being located so that they register with the draw-bolts when the bandles are in their normal position as shown in Fig. 2. Connected with the opposite ends of the drawbolts are rods I39 extending through reduced continuations I3I of the bores I28 to intersect recesses I32 that are formed in the facing sides of the respective handles. Mounted in the recesses I32 is a tongue I33 of a release I34 having a substantially knob-like head I 35 projecting from the recess so that it is adapted to be engaged by the thumb when the hands of the operator are placed on the respective levers, the tongues I33 being pivoted on pins I36 as shown in Fig. 2. The tongues have slots I31 through which the heads of the rods project and are pivotally secured therein by pins I38.

Sleeved on the rods are coil springs I39 having one of their ends engaging against the draw-bolts and their opposite ends against a shoulder I49 formed at the ends of the bores I 28. It is thus obvious that thesprings normally move the bolts to locking position but upon engagement of the knobs at the projecting ends of the levers the bolts are retracted against action of the'springs to effect release of the handles. The heads of the handles or operating levers are partly positioned in recesses MI and I42 of their respective sections and have laterally projecting lugs I43 and I44 adapted to engage the faces of the sections at the sides of the recesses MI and I 42 to limit outward movement of the handles with respect to the hinge sections of the elevator so that the latch release arms connected therewith are kept in position to engage the gate portion of the latch member when the sections are moved to and from closed position and to provide abuttance whereby the opening force applied to the handles is transmitted to the sections so that they are caused to swing on their hinge connection.

Movement of the handle member I96 is limited in the opposite direction through engagement of the latch engaging arm I29 with the bottom of its recess I2I but due to the projection of the latch engaging arm of the other handle member, it is necessary to provide the head of the handle member I01 with a lug I on the side opposite the lug I44 previously mentioned to engage the elevator section 4 at the side opposite the recess I42 as shown in Fig. 2.

The outer ends of the handles are provided with ball-like heads I46 to prevent slipping of the hands of the operator therefrom, and the inner ends of the handles are provided with transverse ribs I41 to prevent slipping of the hands in the opposite direction where they might be injured by the actuating parts of the handles on swinging together of the elevator sections. It is obvious that with the handle structure just described, the elevator latch may be operated by either one or both of the handles upon releasing the locking bolt for one or the other handle, or both.

The modified form of elevator illustrated in Figs. 12 to 17 inclusive operates on the same principle as that of the preferred form and includes a collar or ring-like body I48 consisting of sections I49 and I50 corresponding to the sections 3 and 4 of the preferred form. In the modified form the universal hinge connection consists of a ball and socket joint comprising hemispherical lugs I5I and I52 arranged reversely to each other and having flat faces I53 and I54 extending in spaced parallel horizontal planes to accommodate rocking movement of the sections. The spherical portion I55 of the lug on one section engages within a spherical socket I56 of the other section when the sections are connected in hinged relation by means of a ball I59 that is seated in substantially hemispherical sockets I60 and I6I provided in the faces I53 and I54 of the respective lugs, the center of the sockets being common to the center of the spherical portions of the lugs.

In order to facilitate assembly, that portion of the section I49 below the lug I5I is cut away and the cut away portion is applied as an insert I62 as clearly shown in Figs. 14 and 16. The sections may then be readily connected in hinged relation by inserting the ball I59 in the socket I60-and moving the lug I5I into the spherical socket I56 of the section I50 until the ball I59 seats in the socket I6I. The insert I62 is then applied which, when welded into position as indicated at I63, forms a key to retain the sections in hinged relation. When thus connected the sections are free to hinge relatively to each other on an axis parallel to the axis of the pipe engaged thereby. as well as to rock toward each other onan. axis parallel to the axes of the connecting portions I64 of the balls I65. The latch for securing the sections about a drill pipe is also of slightly different form. The sections are provided on opposite side edges thereof with lugs I66 and I81 having flat inner faces I68 forming continuations of the adjacent edge faces I59 of the respective sections and having their opposite outer faces slightly rounded as at I10 to permit relative rocking movement of the sections when they are engaged by a coupling latch or link I1 I. The link I1I includes a substantially flat plate having a rectangular opening I12 therein to engage over the lugs I66 and I61 and which is provided with ears I13 and I14 that are hinged on a pin I15 carried by ears I16 and I11 projecting from the outer side of the section I50. Sleeved over the pin I15 is a coil spring I18 having the ends I19 and I thereof engaging over the ears I13 and I14 of the coupling link or gate, the spring being so wound that the spring is normally retained in yielding engagement with the ears.

To facilitate swinging movement of the link away from the lugs in opposition to action of the spring, the outer end thereof is provided with a U-shaped handle I8I (Figs. 12, 16 and 17). In this form of the invention the elevator section I50 is provided with a fixed handle I82 extending radially therefrom and terminating in a ball end I83. The handle I82 cooperates with a movable handle I84 pivotally supported on the other section and which has a similar ball end I85. The handle I84 is fixedto the squared end of a'shaft I86 rotatably mounted in spaced ears I81 and I88. The shaft I86 has a laterally extending finger I89 that is normally engaged in a recess I90 in the section I49 and in position to engage against the inner face of the coupling link "I (Fig. 17), so that when the lever I84 is gripped to swing the sections apart the shaft I86 will be rotated, causing the finger 89 to move the link from latched engagement with the lugs I56 and I61. It is therefore not necessary for the operator to grip the handle I8I to draw the coupling link from latched engagement with the lugs on the respective sections. To facilitate mounting of the shaft I86 in the ears I81 and I88 it is formed in two sections I9I and I92, one of the sections having a dowel I93 engaged in a socket I94 in the abutting end of the other section. The sections when assembled are then secured by inserting a pin I95 through the upper section and through the dowel of the lower section as shown in Fig. 16.

In using the first form of elevator, for example, in pulling a. string of drill pipe, the elevator is lowered into position for engaging under the coupling 20 of the pipe section projecting from the rotary table (not shown). With the sections 3 and 4 in open position, as shown in Fig. 3, the operator will draw the elevator over the pipe, after which the handles are moved together until the gate portion of the latch member 93 swings over the lugs 83 and 84. The gate, upon striking the lug 83, moves outwardly and slides over the end thereof until the lug is in registry with the opening 96, whereupon the stored up tension in the spring I02 will snap the latch member over the lugs as shown in Fig. 1. Attention is directed to the fact that in this movement the gate merely moves over the lug 84 which is a part of the section on which the gate is plvotally supported.

When the elevator is raised the sections rock toward the pipe, toggling upon the pivot member 64, to engage under the coupling. The pipe is then raised in the derrick andwhile the pipe is supported by suitable slips on the turntable, the upper pipe section is disconnected and swung by the elevator over toward the side of'the derrick, whereupon the elevator is released by gripping the handles I06 and I01 and drawing them outwardly with respect to each other, at the same time engaging the knob-like ends I35 of the release levers I34 to retract the bolts I21 from engagement with the sockets I29, thereby releasing the levers for rocking movement of the shafts H0 and III so that the gate contacting arms thereon swing the gate to open position against action of the spring I02. Further movement of the handles causes the lugs I43 and I44 thereon to move in stopped engagement with the sections to swing the sections apart as shown in Fig. 3. The elevator is then swung away from the pipe and lowered into engagement with the coupling on the next lower section to be removed from the well. The elevator is closed about the succeeding section in the manner above described. Attention is directed to the fact that when lifting force is applied to the elevator the inward pivoting movement of the elevator sections in eflfect causes contraction of the space between the upper ends thereof to bring the edges of the seats" I! and I8 into engagement with the end of the coupling directly adjacent the periphery of the pipe so that even should the outer peripheral edge of the coupling be worn, the elevator grasps the unworn portion to provide adequate support and prevent outward radial thrusts as above referred to.

The modified form of elevator operates in the same manner as the preferred form, the difl'erences being merely in the construction of the universal hinge connection and in the detail features of the machine.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided an elevator construction particularly designed for safe manipulation of the drill pipe when it is being drawn from or run into a well incidental to drilling operations and that the elevator is especially adapted for safe use in connection with drill pipe having worn collars.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An elevator including a pair of sections having shape to encircle a pipe, bails having pivotal connection with the respective sections on substantially horizontal axes oifset laterally on the opposite sides of the encircled pipe whereon the sections are adapted to rock so that the upper portions thereof move into contact with the pipe, hinging means connecting adjacent sides of the respective sections, said hinging means having interacting axes respectively extending substantially parallel to the axis of the pipe encircled by the sections and to said horizontal axes of the bails whereon said sections are adapted to respectively close on the pipe and to pivot incidental to rocking movement on the bail connections, and a latch releasably connecting the opposite sides of said sections and arranged to compensate for pivotal movement of the sections. r

2. An elevator including sections having a shape to encircle a pipe, supporting means having pivotal connection with the respective sections on substantially horizontal axes offset laterally on opposite sides of the axis of an encircled pipe whereon said sections are adapted to rock so that the upper portions thereof move into contact with the pipe, hinging means connecting adjoining ends of the sections and having a hinging axis extending parallel with said pipe axis and a hinging axis transversely intersecting the first hinging axis whereon said sections are adapted respectively to swing open and close on the pipe and toggle incidental to said rocking movement of the sections, and means releasably connecting opposite ends of the sections to lock said sections together when encircling said pipe, said means being arranged to'compensate for rocking movement of the sections.

3. An elevator including a pair of sections having a shape to encircle a pipe, supporting members having pivotal connection with the respective sections on substantially horizontal axes offset lat-- erally on opposite sides of the axis of theencircled pipe whereon said sections are adapted to rock so that the upper portions thereof move into contact with the pipe, hinging means connecting the sections and having intersecting hinging axes, one of which extends substantially parallel with the axes of the supporting member connections and the other parallel with the axis of the encircled pipe whereon said sections are respectively adapted to swing open and close on the pipe to pivotally compensate for said rocking movement of the sections, and means releasably connecting the sections to lock the sections together when encircling said pipe, said means being arranged to compensate for rocking movement of the sections.

4. An elevator including a pair of sections adapted to encircle a pipe, universal hinging means connecting the sections at one side of the encircled pipe whereon said sections are adapted to swing to and from encircling relation with the pipe and whereon the sections are adapted to rock toward and away from each other, latch means connecting the sections at the opposite side of the encircled pipe including lugs on the sections, a gate pivotally connected with one of the sections and movable over said lugs to rockingly retain said sections, operating levers pivotally mounted on the sections, and gate engaging means having fixed connection with said operating levers to move said gate from engagement with said lugs when the operating levers are moved apart incidental to opening and closing the sections on a pipe, said gate and lug'being shaped to compensate for said rocking movement.

5. An elevator of the character described including mated sections, bails connected with said sections, a universal hinge connecting the sections together whereby the sections hinge relatively to each other for encircling a pipe and pivot toward each other on said bails to engage under a collar on said pipe, a lug on one of the sections, a link pivotally connected with the other section for engaging over the lug to retain the sections in encircling relation with the pipe, said lug and link having interengaging portions shaped to compensate for said pivoting movement of the sections, and means norinally retaining the link in engagement with the lug.

6. An elevator of the character described including mated sections, bails connected withsaid sections, a universal hinge connecting the sections together whereby the sections hinge relatively to each other for encircling a pipe and pivot toward each other on said bails to engage under a collar on said pipe, a lug on one of the sections, a link pivotally connected with the other section for engaging over the lug to retain the sections in encircling relation with the pipe, said lug and link having interengaging surfaces shaped to compensate for said pivoting movement of the sections, a spring normally retaining the link in engagement with the lug, and means on one of the sections having contact with the link for releasing the link from engagement with the lug incidental to hinging of the sections away from said pipe.

7. An elevator of the character described including mated sections, bails connected with said sections, a universal hinge connecting the sections together whereby the sections hinge relatively to each other for encircling a pipe and pivot toward each other on said bails to engage under a collar on said pipe, mating lugs on the sections, a link pivotally connected with one of the sections for engaging over the lugs to retain the sections in encircling relation with the pipe, said lugs and link having interengaging surfaces shaped to compensate for said pivotingmovement of the sections, and a spring normally retaining the link in engagement with the lugs.

8. An elevator of thecharacter described including a pair of mated members, bails connected with said members, a universal hinge directly connecting the members together whereby the members hinge relatively to each other for encircling a pipe and pivot toward each other on said bails to engage under a collar on said pipe, lugs on the members, a link pivotally connected with one of the members for engaging over the lugs to retain the members in encircling relation with the pipe, said lugs and link being arranged to compensate for said pivoting movement of the members, a spring normally retaining the link in engagement with the lugs, and means on one of the members having contact with the link for releasing the link from engagement with thelugs incidental to hinging of the members away from said pipe.

9. An elevator including a pair of sections having shape to encircle a pipe, bails having pivotal connection with the respective sections on substantially horizontal axes offset laterally on the opposite sides of the encircled pipe whereon the sections are adapted to rock so that the upper portions thereof move into contact with the pipe when lifted by said bails, a hinging car on one section and having a bore extending substantially parallel with the axis of the encircled pipe, a pivot member in said bore having abearing seat arranged with an axis extending transversely with respect to said bore, a transverse pivot member in said seat, means on the other section supporting said transverse pivot member whereby said sections are adapted to pivot relatively to said transverse axis incidental to rocking movement thereof on the bail connections, and cooperating latch members connecting the sections and arranged to compensate for pivotal movement of the sections on said transverse axis.

10. An elevator of the character described including a pair of members, a bail connected with each of the respective members, means universally hinging the members together for pivotal movement on a point oflset but in a plane passing through the axis of a pipe to be engaged by said members and whereon the members hinge relatively to each other and pivot toward each other to engage under a collar on the pipe, and a latch on one of said members and engageable with the other member to retain the members in encircling relation with the pipe, said latch being formed to compensate for pivotal movement of the members toward each other.

11. An elevator including a pair of sections having shape to encircle a pipe, bails having pivotal connection with the respective sections on substantially horizontal axes offset laterally on the oppwite sides of the encircled pipe whereon the sections are adapted to rock so that the upper ends move into contact with the pipe when lifted by said bails, hinging ears on the respective sections and having registering bores extending parallel with the axis of the encircled pipe, pivot members in said bores having semi-circular bearing seats arranged with a common axis extending parallel/with the axes of the bail connections,

a cylindrical pivot member received in said seats and on which said sections are adapted to pivot incidental to rocking movement thereof on the bail connections, means connecting said ears to retain the pivot members, a latch releasabiy connecting the opposite side of said sections and arranged to compensate for pivotal movement of the sections on said pivot members, and means anchoring one of said first named pivot members in its bore to maintain fixed axial relationship of said cylindrical pivot member with one of the sections.

12. An elevator including a pair of sections having shape to encircle a pipe, bails having pivotal connection with the respective sections on substantially horizontal axes offset laterally on the opposite sides of the encircled pipe whereon the sections are adapted to rock so that the upper portions thereof move into contact with the pipe when lifted by said bails, hinging ears extending from adjacent sides of the respective sections and having registering bores extending parallel with the axis of the encircled pipe, pivot members in said bor'es having bearing seats arranged with a common axis extending parallel with the axes of the bail connections, a pivot member in said seats and on which said sections are free to pivot incidental to rocking movement thereof on the bail connections, means connecting said ears to retain the pivot members, and a latch releasably connecting the opposite sides of said sections and arranged to compensate for pivotal movement of the sections on said pivot members.

13. An elevator of the character described including mated sections, bails connected with said sections, means hinging the sections together whereby the sections hinge relatively to each other to encircle a pipe and pivot toward each other on said balls to engage under a collar on said pipe, a latch on one of said sections and engageable with the other section to retain the sections in encircling relation with the pipe, fixed and movable levers on the sections, and means connected with the movable lever for releasing the latch,

14. In a device of the character described, a pair of sections adapted to encircle a pipe, a ball and socket hinge connecting the sections, and a latch cooperating with said ball and socket connection to retain the sections in encircling relation with the pipe. r

15. An elevator of the character described including mated sections, bails connected with said sections, a ball and socket hinge connecting said sections, and a latch cooperating with said ball and socket connection to retain the sections in encircling relation with a pipe. 16. In a pipe supporting mechanism, a pair of sections having shape to encircle a pipe, means hingedly connecting the sections including a single rigid projection on adjacent sides of each section, a pivot member interposed between said projections and having intersecting horizontal and vertical axes and opposed arcuate faces centered with the respective axes, said projections being provided with corresponding arcuate hearing surfaces to engage said arcuate faces, and means for retaining said pivot member between said projections whereby said sections are adapted to move relatively to each other on said arcuate faces.

17. An elevator of the character described including mated sections, bails connected with the sections, complementary hemispherical shaped lugs on each of the respective sections and engaged in a spherical recess of the other section, said lugs having registering ball sockets, a ball mounted in said sockets for hingedly retaining the sections, and a latch for retaining the sections in encircling relation with a pipe to be moved by the elevator.

18. An elevator of the character described including mated sections having spherical recesses in adjacent sides thereof, complementary hemispherical shaped lugs on the respective sections and eng ing in the spherical recesses and provided with registering spherical sockets, a ball mounted in said sockets for retaining the sections in universal hinged relation, bails connected with the respective sections, and a latch connecting the opposite sides of said sections to retain the sections in encircling relation with a pipe.

19. An elevator of the character described including mated sections having spherical recesses in one of their adjacent sides to form a hinge socket, hemispherical shaped lugs on the sections and engaging in said hinge socket, said lugs having flat faces and aligning ball sockets, a ball in said sockets and retaining said faces in spaced parallel planes to efiect universal movement of said sections relatively to the axis of a pipe engaged by said sections, and latch means connecting the opposite side of the sections to retain the sections in encircling relation with the pipe. 20. An elevator of the character described including two mated sections, a ball and socket joint connecting the sections for efiecting movement of the sections with respect to vertical and horizontal planes through the vertical axis of the elevator, and locking means connecting the sections in encircling engagement with an object carried by the elevator.

21. In an elevator of the character described, a pair of sections having shape to encircle a pipe, a hinge forming member on each section, and universal means interposed between said members whereby the sections are adapted to swing to and from encircling relation with an encircled pipe and to rock to and from engagement with said P pe- 22. In a pipe supporting mechanism, a pair of sections having shape to encircle a pipe and means hingedly connecting the sections including a single rigid projection on adjacent sides of each section, and a hinge mechanism connecting said projections and having horizontal and vertical hinging axes.

23. In a pipe supporting mechanism, a pair of sections having shape to encircle a pipe, means hingedly connecting the sections including a rigid projection on adjacent sides of each section and having registering bores, cylindrical pivot members mounted in the bores and having cylindrical recesses extending transversely of the bores, a pivot member in said recesses, and a retaining pin extending through said projections and said pivot members axially of said bores whereby said sections are adapted to hinge on the first named pivot members and to pivot to and from'each other on the last named pivot member.

24. An elevator including pivotally connected sections having shape to encircle a. pipe, a latch mechanism connecting the sections for holding the sections in encircling relation with the pipe, a latch operating lever pivotally mounted on the upper portion of one of the sections and projecting radially therefrom to form a handle, and means connecting said lever with the latch mechanism.

GEORGE KREEL. 

